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1 October 2025 10:22 AM

The DJ Who Spins for Royalty and Sets the Rhythm of Two Cities

In partnership with LINKUILD

By Wiles Daniel

Image courtesy of Cuppy / Red Velvet Music Group Limited, 2025

She’s the daughter of well-known entrepreneurs, but she traded boardrooms for dance floors. Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, known worldwide as Cuppy, plays at royal galas as comfortably as she does African street parties. Just as likely to be spotted at London Fashion Week behind the decks at a music festival, Cuppy embodies a rare duality.

For some, she’s a socialite. For others, an artist. And for a growing number, she is a philanthropist with real impact.

Want to know her name? Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola.

But to the world, she is simply Cuppy – a star who lives in two worlds.

A star who lives in two worlds

Cuppy is a familiar face worldwide, but being a celebrity and disc jockey is only part of her story. She is a cultural organizer and a bridge, not only between Lagos and London, but also across musicand philanthropy.

Through her beats and her charitable work, she has demonstrated that art and philanthropy can unite two worlds with a single goal: impact. Her life reflects the balance of glamour and mission, leveraging influence beyond applause.

Her story carries rhythm as much as it carries responsibility. From her birth in Lagos to her studies in London and New York, from global recognition to becoming an ambassador for His Majesty,King Charles, she shows that fame is not simply an indicator of success, but a tool to unite people and leave a mark on history.

Early life

Born on 11 November 1992 in Epe and raised in Lekki, Cuppy attended the American International School of Lagos. Her mother, Nana Otedola, juggled raising Florence and her siblings while steadily growing her own successful career.

These early years helped her internalize the spirit of the metropolis: the noise of car horns, the shouts of market sellers, and the pulse of Afrobeats shaking the air in every corner. Lagos not only made her resilient and formed her creative spirit, but it also refined it.

As she has shared:

“Growing up, I didn’t fully realize just how privileged I was. I never had to worry about anything… What felt normal to me was something someone else was praying for. Gratitude changes everything.”

She moved to London at 13 years old to take her GCSEs and A-Levels, swapping the vibrant streets of Nigeria for the roads of British boarding schools. The move was an earthquake – shifting from the chaos of Lagos to the discipline of UK academia.

Nevertheless, she carried her background with her, keeping her Nigerian identity at the centre of her developing character. It informed her art, giving her the confidence to make music full of Lagos energy yet with global appeal.

It also shaped her philanthropy, inspiring her to bridge cultures and communities. That same drive still defines her distinctive influence.

Education

Image courtesy of Cuppy / Red Velvet Music Group Limited, 2025

Cuppy pursued both art and intellect with equal passion.

After completing her A-Levels in London, she graduated from King’s College London in 2014 with a degree in Business and Economics. She later revealed:

“A lot of people don’t know this, but I loved King’s so much, I put it for all three options on my UCAS form. It was King’s or nothing!”

At King’s, she juggled academic work with DJ performances across London. This combination of business knowledge and creative hustle laid the foundation for her career.

Image courtesy of Cuppy / Red Velvet Music Group Limited, 2025

She went on to earn a Master’s in Music Business from New York University (NYU), gaining first-hand experience in the global music industry, all while being known for her electrifying DJ sets that have graced some of the world’s most iconic stages.

In 2023, she completed an MSc in African Studies at the University of Oxford. Her academic journey not only gave her qualifications but also deepened her philanthropic drive. She has since established hardship funds at all her alma maters to support African students.

As she explained:

“Education led me to philanthropy. My access to education made me realise it is such an important tool, it gives you power, and it gives you options.”

Unlike many celebrities who rest on fame, Cuppy invested in education, giving her both cultural sensitivity and intellectual depth, qualities that define her presence on stage, in classrooms, and at global conferences.

Music career

Image courtesy of Cuppy / Red Velvet Music Group Limited, 2025

Cuppy began her music career in the early 2010s, though her breakthrough came in 2014 when she was selected as the resident DJ. This platform put her in the spotlight of the African music industry and brought her into contact with wider audiences.

That same year, she released her first compilation mix, House of Cuppy, an exhilarating blend of house and African music. This showcased her versatility as both a DJ and a cultural connector.

Image courtesy of Cuppy / Red Velvet Music Group Limited, 2025

She released House of Cuppy II in 2015 and toured eight African countries on her “Cuppy Takes Africa” tour. The tour was more than a series of performances: it included charity visits and youth empowerment events, and was later made into a Fox Life documentary.

Collaborations and hit tracks

Cuppy quickly became known for collaborations, working with some of Africa’s biggest stars. Her songs became fixtures on Afrobeat playlists:

  • “Green Light” (2017): featuring Tekno, her debut Afro-pop track.
  • “Vybe” (2018): with Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie, adding cross-border appeal.
  • “Currency” (2018): with Nigerian artist L.A.X, blending Afrobeat with club-ready energy
  • “Gelato” (2019): with Zlatan, which became a viral hit. 

In 2020, Cuppy released her debut album, Original Copy, a 12-track project featuring artists such as Rema, Fireboy DML, Teni, and Stonebwoy. This album solidified her reputation not only as a DJ but also as a recording artist with global reach.

Global performances and recognition

Image courtesy of Cuppy / Red Velvet Music Group Limited, 2025

“Neo-afrobeats” 

Cuppy has not only entertained audiences with her music but has also brought African sounds closer to the global stage. By blending electronic house with Afrobeat, she has positioned herself at the centre of a new movement where African music is celebrated both locally and in international clubs and festivals.

This unique approach helped her establish her own identity – not just as the daughter of entrepreneurs, but as an artist in her own right.

Performing for Royalty

Image courtesy of Cuppy / Red Velvet Music Group Limited, 2025

Few could have imagined a Lagos-born DJ joining the ranks of global elites, but for Cuppy, this is reality. Her life between Nigeria and the UK gave her access to worlds few can enter.

In 2023, she was appointed the first international ambassador of The King’s Trust, King Charles’ charity. This role reinforced that she is defined by more than music.

Cuppy has always sought to use her platform to inspire the younger generation and champion causes she believes in. Her appointment to such a stage was a natural progression.

In May 2024, she was invited to Buckingham Palace for the first time for the King’s Trust Awards. She presented both the Global Young Achiever Award and the Global Sustainability Award.

Still, Cuppy often reminds people that her Lagos roots are just as important. She has said many times that performing for royalty does not feel any bigger than playing for a Nigerian crowd. For her, music is about connection, whether through Afrobeat rhythms in Lagos or refined evenings in London.

Philanthropy

Image courtesy of Cuppy / Red Velvet Music Group Limited, 2025

Philanthropy is Cuppy’s calling, even though her stage is music. She often says that the privilege of education gave her the responsibility to create opportunities for others.

In 2018, she founded the Cuppy Foundation, focused on children’s welfare, health, and education. She has raised over $17 million to support displaced children in Nigeria, holding a record with Save The Children since 2018. She also provides hardship funds for African students across all her alma mater. For Cuppy, it wasn’t about the money – it was about real children gaining access to food, shelter, and education.

In 2023, she launched the Cuppy Africa Oxford Scholars Fund to support African graduate students at Oxford University, where she earned her MSc in African Studies. She also supports King’s College London, ensuring her commitment to education remains a central part of her legacy. She calls education her “first investment.” She holds a unique triple role with Save the Children as ambassador, donor, and founding member of the Africa Advisory Board. In 2023, she was also appointed the first international celebrity ambassador for King Charles III’s The King’s Trust, championing youth empowerment and social equity.

Cuppy has also stepped onto the international stage. In September 2024, she participated in the United Nations General Assembly at the Summit of the Future, serving as both moderator and performer on youth empowerment and global development.

Her words left a mark:

“Maybe I could be the first female president of Nigeria, who knows? Sometimes all we need is a bit of hope.”

Style, Faith, and Personal Life

Over the years, Cuppy has been associated with glamour, bold fashion, and the world’s biggest stages.

Though she enjoys the spotlight, Cuppy has recently been redefining her life. Now in her 30s, she reflects more deeply. She once joked: “I had to remind a friend that I’m 32… I will absolutely not go clubbing unless I’m getting paid to be there as a DJ. Otherwise, my bedtime is fully booked by 10 p.m.” That statement sums up her current outlook: playful and carefree, yet also grounded and intentional.

Faith is equally important. In 2024, she was baptized, sharing on social media how Christianity gives her strength and guidance.

These choices reveal a new side to Cuppy. Behind fame, wealth, and glamour is someone who values discipline, wellness, and spirituality. Her focus has shifted from chasing the next big event to seeking balance. She calls her 30s “Cuppy 2.0”, a time of purpose, self-improvement, and living a meaningful life on and off the stage.

Her journey proves that beneath the spotlight lies a greater mission: to unite communities, shape culture, and contribute to causes that outlast the hype.

Highlights: Cuppy at a Glance